What You Need to Know

Students in North Carolina can learn foundational accounting skills at 4-year colleges and universities through bachelor's degree programs spanning 4-4.5 years. Some programs offer internships. Master's degrees may be earned in 1-2 years and often include internships, study abroad and preparation for the optional CPA exam. Read on to determine whether one of the following programs might be right for you.

Bachelor's Degree Programs in Accounting in North Carolina

Appalachian State University

Program Name: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in accounting

Program Length: 4-4.5 years

Tuition: $5,538 per year for residents, $17,586 for non-residents (2011-2012 tuition and fees)

School Type: 4-year, public; about 17,000 students (approximately 15,000 undergraduate)

Appalachian State University is a 4-year public college located in Boone, North Carolina, which is a small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Department of Accounting in the Walker College of Business offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration program with a major in accounting, which includes a course to prepare you for the CPA exam. You'll study accounting systems, cost accounting and auditing and take business core courses. Optional internships with CPA firms or businesses are also available.

Barton College is located east of Raleigh in Wilson, North Carolina. This school offers bachelor's degrees and accelerated professional programs. Barton's accounting program includes courses in non-profit accounting and current accounting topics that can help you if you plan to take the CPA exam. You'll learn about accounting through lectures, simulations and group work. Some of the classes you could take include cost accounting, auditing, federal taxation, economics and business statistics.

North Carolina State University in Raleigh

Program Name: Bachelor of Science in Accounting

Program Length: 4 years

Tuition: $7,018 per year for residents, $19,853 for non-residents (2011-2012 tuition and fees)

School Type: 4-year, public; about 34,000 students (approximately 25,000 undergraduate)

Address: 2101 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695

Phone: (919) 515-2011

In the Poole College of Management, you can find an accounting major that combines business core courses with focused accounting coursework. You'll also choose a concentration area in financial analysis, information systems, internal auditing or managerial accounting. This bachelor's degree program prepares you for entry-level accounting work and provides you with foundational skills for a master's degree program.

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Program Name: Bachelor of Science in Accounting

Program Length: 4 years

Tuition: $5,440 per year for residents, $17,205 for non-residents (2011-2012 tuition and fees)

School Type: 4-year, public; about 25,000 students (approximately 20,000 undergraduate)

Address: 9201 University City Blvd, Charlotte, North Carolina 28223

Phone: (704) 687-2000

Located in the largest metropolitan area in North Carolina, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte is the state's urban research university. It offers a bachelor's degree program in accounting through the Belk College of Business. During your first 2 years, you'll take preparatory courses in algebra, calculus, business computing and basic accounting. The core of the program happens during your junior and senior years, during which you'll take courses in financial management, financial accounting and accounting information systems. You can also complete an internship.

Master's Degree Programs in Accounting in North Carolina

North Carolina State University

Program Name: Master of Accounting

Program Length: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time

Tuition: $5,958 per year for residents, $18,006 for non-residents (2011-2012 tuition only)

Prerequisites: Bachelor's degree in accounting or bachelor's in any field and 7 courses in accounting and related subjects

The master's degree program at North Carolina State is designed to prepare you for management-level accounting and business consultant work. This program includes 3 concentration options in taxes, enterprise risk management or information technology. You'll also find study abroad opportunities, as well as a customized review program for the CPA exam.

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Program Name: Master of Accountancy

Program Length: 2 years

Tuition: $3,689 per year for residents, $15,226 for non-residents (2011-2012 tuition only)

Prerequisites: Bachelor's degree

Requirements: GMAT

School Type: 4-year, public; about 25,000 students (approximately 20,000 undergraduate)

Address: 9201 University City Blvd, Charlotte, North Carolina 28223

Phone: (704) 687-2000

In the Master of Accountancy program, you can choose from a professional accounting, financial accounting and auditing, tax or individualized track. If you need to obtain a CPA license, you can prepare for the exam through the professional accounting or accounting and auditing tracks. To earn your degree, you'll take 10 courses, including required coursework in international accounting and corporate taxation.

North Carolina Licensure Information for Accounting Professionals

Accountants who plan on working in a job where they need to file reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission are required to be licensed as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Prospective CPAs in North Carolina must complete 150 hours or coursework, which can be completed by earning a master's degree in accounting or related field. You can also be eligible to take the CPA exam if you earn a bachelor's degree and complete an additional 30 credit hours of accounting and business-related coursework, according to the North Carolina State Board of CPA Examiners. You'll also need to acquire 1 year of experience and pass the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Uniform CPA Examination.

Regional Salary Info

In 2011, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) published studies that included average salaries in North Carolina. The BLS reported that accountants and auditors in the state earned an approximate mean annual salary of about $67,000.